The way that the Interfraternity Council at DePauw conducts its recruitment process is efficient and beneficial to understanding which fraternity a student should join. Rush is used as a meet-and-greet for possible new members to see what a fraternity and its brothers are like when the lights are on and the music turned down. The floors sticky from spilt beer and slippery from sweat are cleaned as most fraternities portray the brotherhood life as it is Sunday through Thursday. That brother you saw puking in the restroom after one too many Four Lokos is now talking to you about leadership positions in the house.
The real benefit of rush is that you can find the fraternities that you do and don’t like. Sure, you can take advice from upperclass students or listen to South Quad rumors, but the rush process allows you to see the brothers as people. If you do not like their presentations, then that says something about the brothers. If you are uncomfortable with people drunkenly shouting swear words while pitching their fraternity, then do not join. If you find a skit distasteful or embarrassing, then that affects your decision.
In my personal interview/talks session with a brother at one fraternity, I mentioned how I do not drink, to which he responded, “are you on probation too?” The rest of that conversation made the fraternity, which I had previously thought matched my tastes, seem like it was a constant party den. We both learned in that session that we were not complementary.
Rush, though tiring, was a very fun process. In retrospect, I am glad I did not wait for an open bid and instead went through the complete process. If next year a first-year that wants to join a fraternity asks if they should go through formal recruitment or wait for an open bid, I would recommend the former.
As a final note, props to Delta Tau Delta and FIJI for having the best overall rush presentations and interviews. Also a shout-out to Delta Upsilon’s food.